The Tide: Longer winter break would provide students with valuable rest

 

Winter break is a much-needed break for RM students and teachers after all the studying and the tests beforehand. It’s a time for travel and relaxation with family and friends. It’s a time to visit extended family. It’s a time for seniors to reflect on early college decisions or start preparing for regular decisions.

Of course, it’s not only for students but for teachers as well to be free from grading hundreds of tests and homework. But one week goes by in a blink of an eye, and many students are left wondering how time passes so fast by the time Jan. 1. rolls around.

The issue of winter break at RM is a minor issue that many students feel will never change. Even though RM is an IB school and since many students are part of the IB program, the workload for students increases drastically...

https://thermtide.com/20709/opinions/longer-winter-break-would-provide-students-with-valuable-rest/

Montgomery County holds special meeting to approve controversial calendar change

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. (FOX 5 DC) - Montgomery County’s Board of Education convened for a special meeting on Tuesday that critics say should have never happened.

The meeting ended with MCPS’ School Board now officially approving a 2021-2022 calendar change that will give MCPS staffers more time off, starting with this year’s holiday break...

...Martin told FOX 5 Dr. McKnight’s team never contacted the MCEA about the calendar change. Martin confirmed teachers are only getting three half days for planning in this new schedule. 

"I think this is symptomatic of a larger issue and that larger issues is over the last 20 years, there’s been a movement in this country to strip boards of education of their power and turn over the control of our public school systems to a ‘superintendent’ who is then a ‘CEO’ and reports to know one," said Janis Zink Sartucci, a member of the Montgomery County volunteer group, "Parents’ Coalition."

During Tuesday’s special meeting, the group’s twitter handle trailed BOE members, writing in one post:

"While @mocoboe is in recess to read Robert's Rules, exactly WHAT was the procedural error last week that is being corrected today?  Resolution was voted on. Failed. Error was that it failed?" 

The group believes school board members pushed the calendar change through, not properly following voting rules. Some say Tuesday’s special meeting should not have been allowed...

https://www.fox5dc.com/news/montgomery-county-holds-special-meeting-to-approve-controversial-calendar-change

Balt. School System paid out $46 million in bonuses, overtime pay and accrued leave, pushing the earnings of many employees well into six figures

"The bottom line for taxpayers and parents, is they want money in the classroom...



http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/baltimore-city/bs-md-ci-school-system-salaries-20150321-story.html#page=1